News from the Pews - 29 March 2025
Good morning, all.
First headline this week:
The first Church and Churchyard clear up of 2025 is this morning from 10.30-12. If you're able to bring your own tools/dusters etc., please, that'd be helpful (no polish, please - it damages the pews), though we do have some tools on site. I'll bring hard hats for anyone happy to work around the tower.
Next, tomorrow is Mothering Sunday and my aim at 10am is to focus on 'Mother Church', filling you in on plans for how we'll use the £315K grant money we've received recently. If you can't wait til tomorrow for that, I was interviewed by Radio Cambs. on Thursday (27th) at 7.52am and 8.45am, and those interviews are available on iPlayer. Likewise, the heritage skills workshops I talk about there will be very similar to this one https://youtu.be/skSuAkpIw5w?si=mru5Lzt7nyy8ASK-
Still on the subject of Mothering Sunday and the grant, ITV will be coming to church at 11.30am to film for a newsflash on the grant news to be broadcast later in the day. Initially they wanted to film bits of the 10am service, but I arranged instead that we would restage bits of that at 11.30, if any of you were willing to hang around after coffee (or to put your coffee mugs down and stand back in the pews for a moment or two). IF anyone were willing to stay around for this, it would be much appreciated. I don't think it will take long, and I'm sure backviews will be acceptable if you'd rather your faces weren't filmed (I won't get a choice on that one - I'll be being interviewed - but you will!)
Just to note re money (or the lack of it!)... The grant money can only be spent on repairs to the church building. Our general fund (ie the money we use to meet day-to-day running costs - including paying me) is not in great shape. If you have the means and would like to make a one-off donation to that fund, or to set up regular direct debit payments into that fund, the easiest way to do that is as follows:
Regular donations: pick up a 'Parish Giving' form from the back of church or set up a Direct Debit electronically here: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/soham-st-andrew-ely/
One-off donations: use this link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/standrewschurchsoham
or write a cheque payable to Soham PCC
or use these BACS details:
Account Name: Soham Parochial Church Council
Sort code: 20 29 68
Account number: 90829013
If you do write a cheque or make a BACS donation and haven't already filled in a Gift Aid form but are willing to do so, please ask me for one. Gift Aid means we get an extra 25% on your donation at no cost to you (ie. £100 becomes £125). It's a really good scheme.
Moving on to Monday 3-4.30pm, that's the 'World beneath our feet' drop in event, including an exhibition of fenland-themed art work by children from The Shade and The Weatheralls. There will be activities for children, but it won't be exclusively child-focused. G's will be doing a short presentation at 4pm, and there'll be free refreshments, so if you were thinking of coming but aren't bringing children, 3.45pm ish might be a good time to turn up. It's being organised by a group called Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination and it should be good.
Flitting back to this w/e, Tea Time Church isn't happening as lots of people are tied up with Mothering Sunday, so the next one of those will be last Sunday of April.
And finally, Wednesday's EACH coffee morning in church raised a magnificent £355 for the charity. Thanks to Carol Brannan and team for organising it, and to everyone who came along.
Right... perhaps see you shortly at the clear-up
Very best all round
Eleanor